The Internet Archive’s Grateful Dead is a great collection of concert tapes. There are over 2,000 unique concerts. There are multiple recordings of most concerts. This series attempts to provide a simple interface to this collection by selecting one recording for each concert on a given date. Preference is given to tapes processed by the great Charlie Miller and sound board tapes. Not all shows are well recorded but the there are great moments here. Dig in and enjoy! You didn’t have to be there. Good Luck.

The Grateful Dead Valentines of Flesh and Blood (1990 –1995)

After a very successful spring/summer 1990 tour Brent Mydland, the Dead’s long time keyboard player Brent Mydland died of a drug overdose. His last show with The Grateful Dead was on 23 July 1990. Vince Welnick (formerly of The Tubes) joined on key boards. From time to time between September 1990 and March 1992, Bruce Hornsby also played with the band on his grand piano. There are some great shows after July 1990, especially when Bruce was present. Jerry’s continued health problems (and drug addiction) crippled his singing and sometimes the Drums –> Space portion of the concerts could last for up to an hour. Jerry did deliver some of his finest (blues oriented) solos during this period (listen to such songs as Days Between and Standing On the Moon). Robert Greenfields excellent Dark Star: An Oral Biography of Jerry Garcia provides important contributions to understanding what was happening to Jerry (and the band) during these ‘final days’. Jerry Garcia died August 9, 1995. RIP